Assin South MP Urges Cancellation of Ghana-Colombia Maritime Deal Over Security Risks
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour demands government halt Colombia shipping pact citing narcotics concerns.
Assin South Member of Parliament and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has demanded the immediate cancellation of the maritime shipping agreement between Ghana and Colombia. The MP argued on Adom FM that the deal offers minimal economic value to Ghana while exposing the nation to heightened security threats linked to narcotics trafficking.
The agreement, signed in March 2026 following negotiations in Bogotá, establishes a direct shipping corridor between the Port of Tema and Colombia’s Port of Cartagena. Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had previously touted the initiative as a pathway to streamline trade, reduce transit times, and unlock business opportunities across the Atlantic. Colombian Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina and Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio publicly endorsed the project, viewing it as a transformative step to repurpose the Atlantic – historically tied to the slave trade – into a conduit for shared prosperity.
Fordjour challenged the government’s rationale, questioning why Ghana would partner with Colombia, a nation not a major exporter of goods essential to Ghanaian markets. He contrasted Colombia’s economic profile with countries like China, which dominate in furniture, textiles, and other commodities Ghana relies on. Citing a UN Office on Drugs and Crime report, the MP emphasized Colombia’s status alongside Brazil as a leading global cocaine producer, responsible for roughly 70% of worldwide output. This security dimension, he argued, renders the agreement ill-timed and perilous for Ghana.
No formal response has emerged from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the MP’s call for cancellation. The parliamentary committee is expected to revisit the matter during its next scheduled session, with potential pressure mounting on the government to reassess the pact amid growing concerns over narcotics transit routes.
